patterson



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

P. PATTERSON & H. E. BOYD. MACHINE FOR SGARFING AND BENDING TUBE SKBLPS,

(No Model,)

110.314,?12. Patented 1V1a1-.31,1885.

m U1 IHH'F A; 0% 1 WWW N, PETERS, Phuw-lxlhcgmphen Wnshmglnn. 0. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. PATTERSON & H. E. BOYD. MACHINE FOR SCARFING AND BENDING TUBE SKELPS.

No. 314,712. Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

Q00 .W Nw m n w ===H| 2% N. PETERS, Phcwiflmyipher. Wishmghm. n. c,

S UNITED STATES PATENT (b rren.-

PETER PATTERSON AND HENRY E. BOYD. OF MOKEESPORT, PA., ASSIGNOBS TO THE NATIONAL TUBE \VORKS COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASS.

MACHINE FOR DSCARFING' A SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ND SENDING TUBE-SKELPS.

Patent No. 314:,712, dated March 31. 1885.

Application filed February 521, i881. Renewed November 23, 1882. (No modeLl To callwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, PETER PATTERSON and HENRY E. BOYD, of McKeesport, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Scarring and Bending Tube-Skelps; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description thereof, reference being had IO to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-.-

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of our improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is atop view of the same. Fig. 3 is a face view of the entering end. Fig. 4 is a side View of the sus pended mandrel and bar, the former being shown in dotted lines to indicate its relative position herewith. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the former. Fig. 6 is an end View of 2:) the guide between the scarfing and bending rolls. Fig. 7 is an end view of the flatscarfed plate. Fig. 8 is a like view of the plate after passing through the bending-rolls. Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the bending-box 0n the line of w at, Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is an end view of a portion of thelappmg-rolls, showing a section of the finished skelp therein; and Fig. 11 is a bottom view of part of the former, showing its gradually-converging sides.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

Our invention relates to machinery or apparatus for preparing the ordinary plateiron for welding into pipe or tubing, wherein the edges of theplate are first beveled or scarfed and the plate then bent by successive steps into a tubular skelp having one scarfed edge overlapping the other, so that when reheated it-oiin be welded into a pipe or tube by the ordinary method. It may also beemployed for both bending and welding the finished tube. The usual method of forming these tube-skelps has'been first to bevel or scarf the plate, then heat it, and by means of traveling tongs draw it through skelpingdies. They have also been formed in rolls, in one set of which the plate was first bent in a U form, and the upper edges afterward bent over into the tubular shape in another set, which were sometimes aided by a guide or former.

Our invention consists in certain improvements in the construction and arrangement of aseries of rolls for this purpose and of the guides and formers employed between the rolls, whereby the flat plate fed in at one end of the apparatus is by successive steps first scarfed and then bent into tubular form with the scarfed edges lapping in proper position for welding.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will describe its construction and operation.

In the drawings, A A represent the housings of the scarfing-rolls, which are mounted 55 in these housings at the front of the apparatus. The scarfingrolls B B B are threehigh, there being the large plain-faced upper roll,

B, hung in suitable bearings in the top of the housings, the large plain-faced lower or sup- 7o porting roll, 13', mounted at the base of the housings, and the small scarring-roll B between the upper and lower rolls. The middle roll, B, is provided with a depression, I),

in the center the width of the plate fed to the machine, and the ends of the depression are beveled, as at I), to scarfthe edges of the plate. This roll is smaller in diameter than the space between the uprights of the housings A, so that the roll can be drawn out through the side of the housings without re moving the other rolls, and changed for another roll having a scarfing-depression suitable for any other desired width of plate. The roll is mounted injournal-boxes a a, and one box, a, is slipped out with the roll, the other one, a, being left in the housing. The journal-boX a is provided with two lugs, a (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3,) and a key, at, passes through one housing and fits between these lugs, to hold the roll in place. A fiat guide, A, is secured in front of these rolls, to direct the flat plate into them. The use of the smaller central roll supported by the lower roll also enables us to operate the rolls with 9 5 less power than where the ordinary two-high rolls are employed.

0 O are the bending-rolls,which are mounted in suitable housings in line with and a short distance from the scarfing-rolls. In the lower roll is formed a semicircular concave depression or groove, 0, and the surface of the upper roll forms a correspondingly-semicircular convex tongue, which'fitsinto the concave of the lower roll, so as to make a trough-- that at the end nearest the bending-rolls the so as to hold the bent plate up against the opening or pass is concave-convex in form, be ing curved nearly to the shape of the rolls, as shown in full lines, Fig. 6, so that the plate passing from the searfing-rolls is given a partial bend before entering the bendingl'olls, to stiffen the plate and enable it to pass or feed more easily into the bending-rolls. The ends of the box D extend in between the two sets of rolls, so as to strip the plate from the scarfing-rolls and to insure its true delivery into the bending-rolls. i

E E are the lapping-rolls, which are mounted in linewith the scarfing-rolls and bendingrolls, and will be referred to hereinafter. Between the bending-rolls and the lapping-rolls is secured the bending-box F, by means of which the bent plate delivered thereto from the bending-rolls is bent into tubular form. This bending-box is composed of the lower guideplate, G, andthe formerH. The guide-plate.

is made of cast-iron, and is slightly concave,

former. The former H is made of cast-iron, and the interior of the entering end h between the sides 9 g is about the same width as that of the bent plate delivered from the-bendingrolls. .The sides g g of the'former then gradually approach or converge until at the delivery end h the distance betweenthem is about equal to the diameter of the finished skelp, and the converging sides g extend beyond the roof of the former to the center of the lapping-rolls. As the distance between the sides of the former decreases, the roof is curved, so as to bend the sides of the plate down, and between the sides, along the roof of the former, projects the longitudinal ridge is, which extends about two-thirds the length of the former, thus forming a curved depression, Z Z, one on eitherside of the ridge. The depression Z on one side of the ridge is deeper than the depression Z on the other, so that one lip of the skelp delivered from the former will be left higher than the other. Thebent plate delivered from the bending-rolls is by this former bent into tubular form, the one edge being higher than the other, and the edges approaching but not lapping each other until they pass the ridge is on the roof, when they are pressed past each other by the approaching or converging sides 9 9 just before the blank is caught by the rolls E E. As the principal wear on the former comes on the delivery end, the end is formed of a removable casting or shoe, S, secured to the former by a plate, 8, and screw-bolts s. The former is secured to the transverse plate T, the plate being provided with arms 25 t, which fit in suit.- able recesses in the frame of the machine, and the former is secured by means of these arms 25 and set-screws t, passing through the frame of the machine, and adjusted by these setscrews, so as to be raised or lowered accord ing to the distance desired between it and the guide-plate G, as hereinafter referred to. By forming the bending-box with the former removable from the guide-plate it is also easily lifted off in case the blank sticks in its pas sage through the apparatus, or if, for any other reason, it is desired to open thebending-box. A small opening, 10, is left between the sides 9 of the former and the guideplate, for the escape or removal of the scale. A mandrel-bar, M, extends through the bending-box F, and supports a mandrel or ball, N, between the lapping-rolls E E, the bar being suspended in place by means of an arm, m,

pivoted at m to the frame of the apparatus above the box and near the bending-rolls. The bar M is provided with ahcel, m extending between the bending-rolls, which prevents the plate from lapping around the rolls as it is delivered therefrom. The bar M is formed hollow, so as to permit the flow of water through it to cool the mandrel and the lapping-rolls, and water is supplied to the bar through the pipe g on the arm m. The ball N is tubular, and is slipped over a headed rod, P, which is slipped into the hollow end of the bar M, and secured therein by means of a pin, a, passing through'the former, bar, and rod. At the end of the rod P is a hole, 9, by means of which, after the pin a is removed, the rod can be drawn out of the bar from the rear of the apparatus when it is desired to change the mandrel. By thus rcmovably securing the mandrel to the bar we overcome the necessity of withdrawing the entire mandrel-bar whenever the mandrel is changed, as is the case where the mandrel is rigidly secured to the bar. As the strain on the mandrel in these continuous mills is a drawing strain, and the mandrel-bar is necessarily firmly secured in place towithstand such strain, the advantage ofhaving the ball removably secured, as above described, is apparent, as otherwise not only the mandrel-bar, but in some cases the bending-box and upper roll, would have to be re moved. In welding tubing on the apparatus, where the ball is necessarily changed after each pipe is welded the easy removal and changing the ball is of great importance. The rod fits loosely in the hollow bar, so that the water passing through the bar will be forced out all around the mandrel and against the face of the rolls and will keep'them cool. The bar Mis of smaller diameter than the interior ICO of the finished skelp, so that the plate does not necessarily touch the bar, but is large I welding or lapping edges of the skelp are in enough to prevent the buckling of the plate as it passes through the former. As it fits close to the ridge is of the former, it also prevents the edges of the plate from lapping before passing the roof of the former in case either side should be bent over too far. The lappingrolls E E are concave rolls, the concave of the lower roll being semicircular and of proper size to hold the lower part of the plate against the mandrel or ball N, which is suspended, as above described, between the rolls. Around the concave of the upper roll, E. extends a depression or groove, 0, this groove being for the reception of the higher edge of the tubularplatc delivered from-the bending-box. The sides 9 g of the former extend between to the center of the lapping-rolls beyond the roof of the former, and after the edges of the tubular plate pass the roof of the former the approaching or converging sides g g press the edges past each other and cause them to lap. The rolls E E then catch the skel p and press down the lappingedges close to the ball N,the higher edge iittingwithin the annular groove e of the upper roll, which also serves to pre vent the skelp from twisting and insure its straight delivery from the rolls.

The operation of our improved apparatus is as follows: The rolls are geared to run at the proper speed, so that longitudinal buckling or straining of the plate will be avoided. The ordinary plate of the proper gage and width is brought to a rolling-heat and fed along the guide A to the rolls B B, and in passing through them the edges of the plate are propely scar-fed to form the weldingjoint. The plate then passes through the guide-box D, where the plate isgiven a slight curve to stiffen and insure its proper feeding to the bendingrolls C 0. These rolls bend the plate approximatelyinto a halfcircle and force it into the bending-box F. As the plate passes through this box its turned-up edges are caught by the sides g g of the former G, and gradually drawn or bent over toward each other as the sides 9 g approach each other until the edges are drawn into the depressions H on either side of the longitudinal ridge k, in which one edge is bent lower than the other. As the edges of the tubular plate pass beyond the roof of the bending-box the converging sides 9 g press it stillcloser together, as above described, and cause the edges to overlap just before they are caught by the lappingrolls. The mandrel-bar M prevents the buckling or doubling of the plate as it passes through the rolls, and supports the ball or mandrel N between the lapping-rolls. As the tubular plate is forced forward it is caught between the rolls E E and the lapping-edges pressed down to form a properly'shaped skelp around the ball and mandrel. The higher lip of the plate tits in the annular depression 6 of the upper roll,

true line.

The apparatus is arranged to lap the edges of the plate or skelp by the converging sides g 9 after it passes the bending-box roof'and just before entering the rolls, because by so doing the edges of the plate are bent over by the bending-box from a half-circle in a gradual curve, and are only bent as far as necessary before being drawn straight around the mandrel by the lappingrolls, thus overcoming the liability of their lapping too far, which occurs when lapped in the bending-box. The water which passes through the hollow bar M and is discharged around the ball and against the lap ping'rolls keep them cool and prevents the heated metal from cutting them out rapidly. \Vhen the ball becomes too much heated for use, the pin 1" is withdrawn, the rod P pulled out from the rear of the rolls, and another ball slipped over it, after which the rod is slipped back to place in the bar M, and secured in place by the pin 1'. W'hen the removable end or sleeve sof the former becomes worn,it can be removed and another one substituted therefor, as above described.

The machine can be arranged for forming different-sized skelpin the following manner: The key a is drawn out and scarting-roll B and journal-box a withdrawn through the side of the housing, a roll having the proper-sized scarling-depression slipped in through the side of the housing and secured by the pin fitting between the lugs a) on the journal-box. The guide D and bending-rolls C C will suit many different sizes of plates. The bendingboX is arranged by raising or lowering the former H to give more or less space for the passage of the plate, it being thus capable of adjustment to suit several diameters of pipe. A propersized ball is secured to the mandrelbar, and lapping-rolls of the proper size are substituted, when the apparatus will be ready for use.

The apparatus has been described for scarfing and bending tube-skelp; but it was evident that by the substitution of concavo welding-rolls for the lapping-rolls it can be employed to advantage in bending and welding tubing by a continuous process, and its use for this purpose, so far as applicable thereto, is of course included within the invention. \Vhen forming butt-weld tubing, the depressions Z Z of the bending-box are formed the same depth to enable the edges to meet on the same level after passing the bending-box roof.

What we claim as our-invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The three-high scarting-rolls BBB the middle roll, B, having the scarfing-depression and being capable of being withdrawn through the side of the housing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the housings A, the

and is held by it from twisting, so that the l three-high rolls B B B", the small middle roll capable of being withdrawn through the side Of the housing. and the journal-boxes a a, one having the lugs a for the reception of the pin (5, passing through the housing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with the scarfing-rolls" B B and bending-rolls O O, mounted in line therewith, the guidebox D. secured between said scarting-rolls and bending rolls, and having the pass d, flat at the entrance and concavo-convex at the discharge, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The bending-box F. havingthelongitudinal ridge k, depressions Z Z on either side of the ridge, andgraduallyconv erging sides 9 g, extending'beyond the bending-box roof, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

5. Inbending-boxes for the manufacture of tubing, the combination of the guide-plate G and the former H, having the longitudinal ridge is and gradually converging sides 9 g, the former being capable of vertical adjustment from and toward the guide-plate to adapt it for use in bending different diameters of skelp. substantially as set forth.

6. The improved bending-box F, for bending tube-skelp. having the longitudinal ridge 7c and gradually-converging sides 99, and provided with the removable shoe S, secured therein at the delivery end, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

7. Themandrel-bar M, attached to the.frame above and extending through the bending-box, and provided with the heel at, extending between the bending-rolls, substantially as and for the purpost s set forth.

8. The mandrel-bar M, extending through the bending-box, in combination with the mandrel N, supported between the lapping-rolls, and so removably secured to the mandrel-bar as to be removed at the rear of the rolls. sub stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. The combination of the mandrel-bar M, tubular ball N, and headed rod 1?, passing through the ball and removably secured to the mandrel-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination of the mandrel-bar M, tubular ball N, and headed rod P, extending through the ball into the bar and secured therein by a pin, 1, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. The combination of the guide-plate G, V

tubular ball N, and the headed rod P, passing through'the ball and loosely secured in the hollow of the bar.

13. The combination of the hending'boX F,

having the longitudinal ridge 7c. depressions H on either side thereof, and gradually-converging sidesg 9. extending beyond the bending-box root, the lapping-rolls E E, one having the annular groovee, and the mandrel-bar M, extending through the bending-box and supporting the mandrel between the rolls, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

In testimony whereof we, the said PETER Parrnizson and HENRY E. BOYD, have hereunto set our hands.

PETER PATTERSON.

HENRY E. BOYD.

Witnesses:

J AMES I. KAY, F. G. KAY. 

